The purpose of this publication is to outline how the 2006 Census will be conducted. The Census and Statistics Act 1905 requires that the "...census shall be taken in the year 1981 and in every fifth year thereafter...". The next Census will be held on Tuesday, 8 August 2006.

The Census is the largest statistical collection undertaken by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and one of the most important. There are two broad objectives that underpin the Census. The first of these is to accurately measure the number and key characteristics of people in Australia on Census Night and the dwellings in which they live. The second is to provide timely, high quality and relevant data for small geographic areas and small population groups, to complement the rich but broad level data provided by ABS surveys.

This publication describes the history of the Census, the process by which the 2006 Census was planned, the way it will be conducted and processed and the type of output that will be available.

Information about the full range of ABS data can be found in the ABS Catalogue of Publications and Products (cat. no. 1101.0). Further information about 2006 Census products and services will be published closer to the 2006 Census date.